£12m extra Government funding for Lincolnshire bus services

Every part of the East Midlands is set to receive a boost for its bus services, with an unprecedented level of funding in recent years totaling £81 million from the Government.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh confirmed today that this funding is part of a broader initiative to drive growth across England, with a special focus on areas that have been underserved in the past. While every region will benefit, priority is being given to those in greater need.

This funding will enable urban areas to sustain high-quality services, while other regions will see service expansions. It’s the largest recent investment in bus improvements across the majority of areas, working in tandem with efforts to implement London-style bus systems nationwide.

The £81 million allocation will be used to strengthen popular routes, protect rural services, and boost bus usage for shopping, social activities, and commuting. The investment will also prevent cuts to threatened routes, improve punctuality, and eliminate regional disparities in bus reliability.

In the past, inconsistent and fragmented funding had led to declining bus services, ultimately affecting passengers. The new approach simplifies funding and offers bus operators the certainty they need to plan long-term services.

Funding will now be allocated based on local needs, levels of deprivation, and population size, ending previous years’ competition for funds that often delayed projects and wasted resources.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said:

“Regular and reliable bus services are vital to communities.

“For far too long, people in the East Midlands have dealt with unreliable buses—delays, cancellations, or simply no-shows. This funding is part of a bus revolution aimed at ending the postcode lottery of services, driving economic growth, and ensuring everyone has access to jobs and opportunities.

“We’ve already committed over £150 million to keep bus fares low, and this nearly £1 billion in new funding will protect local routes, improve reliability, and put passengers first.”

This funding aims to keep essential connections—like routes between towns and hospitals—running smoothly, in line with the Government’s ambitions for NHS reform.

Buses are the most used form of public transport in the UK, and the Government is committed to reversing the effects of decades of deregulation. The forthcoming Buses Bill will give local leaders more authority to design bus networks that cater to their communities’ specific needs. This change will help authorities deliver modern, integrated bus systems with passengers’ needs as the central focus.

The overall £955 million investment also includes £150 million dedicated to extending the existing fare cap to help reduce the cost of living. The fare cap, which limits bus journey costs to £3, is set to remain until December 2025, helping travelers save up to 80% on some routes.

Additionally, £200 million in CRSTS funding was announced in the Autumn Budget to improve transport links in major city regions, further boosting growth and productivity.

With investment and reform, this Government is laying the foundations for economic growth: creating more jobs, putting more money in people’s pockets, and rebuilding the country from the ground up.